Southeastern Community College Alumni Association | Distinguished Alumnus Award 1997
Wayne grew up dreaming of being an athlete and coach. He won an appointment to West Point Academy, but was kept from his dreams by a post-season football injury. Instead, he became a sports administrator with a coach’s feel for team play.
After earning a degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa in 1950, Duke started his 40 year career as Sports Information Director at the University of Northern Iowa, followed by a similar job at the University of Colorado. From 1952 to 1963 he was Assistant to the NCAA’s first full-time Executive Director, Walter Byers.
Mr. Byers said Wayne was “a man with a good heart and a good conscience.” Wayne Duke was named Commissioner of the Big Eight conference in 1963 and Commissioner of the Big Ten in 1971. He retired in 1989. A man with much to offer, he always gave more than he received His work with academic standards, graduation rates, bowl game participation, affirmative action and television contracts changed the world of college athletics forever.
“Performance commands respect.” – Wayne Duke
